Stocking protector



Aug. 24, 1937. w R KOPPE 2,090,683

STOCKING PROTECTOR Filed Aug. 13, 1934 Patented Aug. 24, 1937 NED STAES STOCKING PROTECTOR tion of New York Application August 13, 1934, Serial No. 739,569

2 Claims.

My invention relates to stocking protectors and is concerned more particularly with a device of this nature which is intended to snugly fit the heel of the wearer for the dual purpose of protecting the stocking against Wear and preventing relative slippage of the shoe.

Stocking protectors are customarily made from flexible, sheet material, such as leather, imitation leather, rubberized fabrics and the like, which is cut into two blanks constituting, respectively, the base and combined end and side walls and afterwards secured together toform the finished article. These blanks are so proportioned and shaped that when the complete protector is in working position, it conforms closely to the curvature of the heel and clings tightly thereto. The formation of these protectors from two separate blanks, however, is objectionable from a manufacturing standpoint owing to the necessity for two blank cutting operations and for accurately positioning the blanks with respect to each other.

It is therefore the principal object of my invention to devise a stocking protector which is formed from a one-piece blank and which is suitably stiffened to preserve its shape and prevent wrinkling.

A further object is to provide a protector which includes. suitably disposed apertures that provide for ventilation and lessen the suction effect when 30 in working position.

These and further objects of my invention will we set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and novel means by which said objects are-efiectuated will be definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved protector in its normal position, that is, the one which it assumes when it is removed from the heel 40 of a wearer.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the protector as it appears when in working position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the rear and underside of the protector and the 45 manner in which the heel seat or base is stiffened.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the protector shown in Fig. 2, illustrating the manner in which portions of the side wall thereof extend inwardly over the base for the purpose of clinging tightly to the heel 59 of the wearer.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the blank from which the complete protector is formed.

Referring to Fig. 5, the numeral l designates the blank from which my improved protector is 55 formed and which may be made from any suitable flexible material, such as leather, imitation leather, rubberized fabric and the like. This blank is formed in one piece and its plan configuration is generally that of a T, the upright of the T being formed by a base i l whose marginal outline conforms generally to the shape of the wearers heel, while the wings of the T are provided by a portion i2 which is integrally united to the base H as at -3. The portion 52 comprises the lateral wings it which extend on opposite sides of the region of attachment l3 and the outer edge of the portion i2 is curved as at E5, while the inner edge of each wing is formed as a straight edge it, the end of each wing being defined by an outwardly extending edge ll. A bulbous recess It is cut into the portion i2 on each side of the attaching neck l3 for a purpose presently explained.

In making the complete protector, the blank IQ is first formed as indicated in Fig. 5 and then each wing it is folded substantially along the dotted line E9 to form a flap 2B which is secured to the underside of the base I l, as by the stitching 2|, or the flap may be fastened to the base by any suitable adhesive. The location of the folding line 59 is such that each flap 213 extends substantially across one-half the width of the base i I, so that the, edges it of the flaps occupy the abutting relation indicated in Fig. 3. This folding also creates the apertures 22 because of the original formation of the recesses IS.

The appearance of the protector is now as generally indicated in Fig. 1, the rear upper edge 23 of the portion l2 overlying the base ll and the,

upper edges M of the wings M bulging or inclining outwardly from the base. The base may also present the slightly curved appearance indicated in Fig. 1. This partial collapsing of the protector is generally brought about by the shape and arrangement of the portion l2 with respect to the base I l and the securement of the flaps 20 to the underside of the base.

When the protector is fitted to the heel of a wearer, the rear-most part of the portion i2 is moved to the substantially vertical position indicated by the numeral 25 in Figs. 2- and 3, thereby moving the bulging upper edges 24 inwardly to overlie the base I i, as generally indicated by the numeral 26 in Fig. l. By this action, assurance is had that the protector will snugly fit the curvature of the heel and will cling thereto. This upward positioning of the rearmost part of the portion [2 and the drawing inward of the wings i4 is accentuated to some extent in use by the wearers heel flattening the base H which, prior to being fitted to the wearer, possesses the slightly curved appearance shown in Fig. 1.

My improved protector, therefore, not only possesses important advantages as regards capacity for rapid production because of its one-piece construction, but it eliminates the accuracy required in otherwise matching two blanks together in order to make the finished protector. She rearmost surface 25 of the portion I2 not only snugly fits the heel of the wearer, but the upper edges 24 substantially grip the sides of the wearers heel and so insures less wear on the stocking as well as preventing relative slippage of the shoe.

Moreover, the provision and securement of the flaps 26 to the underside of the base I I materially reinforces and stiffens the latter andpreserves the shape of the protector for a longer time and prevents wrinkling. It is contemplated that the marginal outline of the base I I will conform Very closely to the marginal outline of the inner sole of a shoe and this fact, coupled with the substantial stiffness of the heel piece as reinforced by the flaps 2i], insures that the base will be snugly retained in position on the heel of the wearer because of its contact with the counter of the shoe. Finally, the formation of the apertures 22 provides for a satisfactory degree of ventilation, a sufiicient flexibility to enable the protector to properly shape and accommodate itself to the curvature of the particular heel with which it is associated, and may also reduce the suction effeet between the heel and protector that would otherwise be present and which is considered to be one of the primary causes of creepage.

I claim:

1. A stocking protector shaped as a heel receiving socket for snugly fitting the wearer's heel to reduce stocking abrasion and prevent relative slippage of the shoe and formed from a flexible, one-piece, substantially T-shaped blank, the upright of the blank constituting a base substantially conforming to the shape of the bottom of the wearers heel and the wings constituting side Walls, the blank including a reentrant opening on each side of the base at the point of connection of each wing therewith, each wing having portions folded under and secured to the base and the openings after said folding forming a pair of spaced suction relieving apertures in the protector socket.

2. A stocking protector shaped as a heel receiving socket for snugly fitting the wearers heel to reduce stocking abrasion and prevent relative slippage of the shoe and formed from a flexible, one-piece, substantially T-shaped blank, the upright of the blank constituting a base substantially conforming to the shape of the bottom of the wearers heel and the wings constituting side walls, the blank including a reentrant opening on each side of the base at the point of connection of each wing therewith, each opening being shaped as a narrow neck terminating in a bulbous enlargement and each wing having portions folded under and secured to the base, the openings after said folding forming a pair of spaced, substantially circular, suction relieving apertures in the protector socket.

WILLIAM P. KOPPE. 

